Ignition and steering lock



June 25, 1935. KNAPPER 2,006,104

IGNITION AND STEERING LOCK Filed March 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor v privy fl'nqk/ver QMQOi-ik flliorney IGNITION AND STEERING LOCK Filed March 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nvenfor 4/ 9 5% By Z flllorney June 25, 1935. 1, KNAPPER 2,006,104

IGNITION AND STEERING LOCK Filed March 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invenlor fin?? nap oer v flllorney June 25, 1935. KNAPPER 2,006,104

IGNITION AND STEERING LOCK Filed March 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Patented June 25, 1935 PATENT OFFICE IGNITION AND STEERING LOCK Irving Knapper, Ossining, N. Y.

Application March 24,

7 Claims.

, My invention relates generally to means for coincidentally locking the ignition and thesteering post of a motor vehicle, and an important object of my invention is to provide a simplified and more ehicient arrangement of this type, which is more convenient temperate and affords more reliable protection.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide an arrangement of the type described above which does not require a key forits operation, and therefore eliminates the inconvenience attendant upon loss or misplacement of an ignition key.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional View through the instrument panel showing a portion of the steering co1- umn with the device of the invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-4! of Figure 1 and looking downward.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking cylinder.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the steering column and steering post showing the arrangement of the locking cylinder on the steering post.

Figure 5 is atop plan view of Figure 2 with the dial and switch arm removed.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of Figure 5 showing the bottom plate removed, and showing the invention in unlocked position.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the device in locking position.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 2 approximately on the line 8-8.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-9 of Figure. 2.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 2.

Figure i1 is a transverse sectional View through Figure 2 taken from the right of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line l2--|2 of Figure 14.

Figure 13 a bottom plan view of the bottom plate.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the bottom plate. Figure 15 is a plan view of the top tumbler disk. Figure 16 is an edge view thereof.

1934, Serial No. 717.250

Figure l? is a top view of the second tumbler disk.

Figure 18 is an edge view thereof.

Figure 19 is a plan View of the bottom or double tumbler disk.

Figure 20 is an edge elevational View thereof.

Figure 21 is a top plan view of the combination operating plate.

Figure 22 is an edge elevational view of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a plan view of a washer or wear plate.

Figure 24 is a plan view of a spring washer.

Figure 25 is an edge elevational view of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is an elevational sectional view of the operating knob.

Figure 27 is a plan view of the operating bar.

Figure 28 is an end elevational view of Figure 27.

Figure 29 is a side elevational view of a portion of Figure 27.

Figure 30 is an end View of a member which operates the ignition switch contacts.

Figure 31 is a side elevatioiial view of the fibre cam member shown in Figure 30.

Figure 32 is a plan view of the main bolt operat-v ing cam.

Figure 33 is an edge elcvational view of Figure 32.

Figure 34 is a plan view of the switch operating arm.

Figure 35 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the line 35-35 of Figure 34.

Figure 36 is a View of the operating shaft.

Figure 37 is a View of the lowerend of the operating shaft.

Figure 38 is a top plan View of the locking dog.

Figure 39 is a side elevational View of Figure 38.

Referring in detail to the drawings the numeral 5 refers generally to the instrument panel of the motor vehicle upon which I moimt a generally V-shaped bracket 6 which has an angulated portion E formed on its underside with serrations or teeth 8 which are engageable by serrations or teeth 9 on the steering post bracket arm H) which has the split clamping portion 1 l which surrounds the steering column and is clamped thereon by means of the screw l2 which traverses the split as shown in Figure 2. In accordance with my invention the split portion ll carries a casing I3 in which the coincidental lock mechanism is contained. The generally rectangular laterally extending casing l3 has a closed top and a removable bottom plate M. A bolt and nut arrangement l5 traversing the bracket portion l and the steering post bracket arm it enables ad justably clamping the bracket it relative to the bracket '6' so that the steering column it may be set at a position convenient to the driver.

Within the steering column H3 is the steering post I! on which I mount-a sleeve or looking cylin; der 18 whose form is shown in Figure 3. The locking cylinder i8 has longitudinal notches i9, 20, and 2! circumferentially spaced thereon to be engaged in different positions of the steering post by the head 22 of the locking bolt 23 which passes through an opening 14 in the side of the casing i3 and the side of the steering column it for this purpose. It will be obvious that this arrangement permits locking the steering post and hence the steering wheel of the vehicle in any one of three positions. Set screws 25, 26 traverse the opposite sides of the locking cylinder it and indent the steering post to lock the locking cylinder in place on the steering post, as shown in Figure 4.

The head 22 is rather long and heavy as shown in Figures 28 and 29 and has a cut out portion 25 which cooperates with one arm 2? of the bolt 23 and is fastened in place by a screw 2? which traverses both the head 22 and the arm 2?. The bolt 23 is U-shaped in form and has a relatively elongated bight portion 28 in opposite end portions of which are located slots 23, 3%, receiving bolts or screws 3!, which depend from the top of the casing i3. Heads 3 3 on the screws 3i 32 hold the bolt 23 in place so that the same may be slid relative to the bolts or screws Si, 32 in opposite directions to engage and release the dog 22 from the slot in the locking cylinder on the steering post. A spring 35 stretched between a post 38' at the middle of the bight portion of the bolt 23 and an anchor 3'? on the wall of the easing adjacent the steering column normally urges the bolt 23 toward the steering column and the dog 22 into engagement with the steering post.

Depending from the top of the casing is a shaft 38 which has a portion flattened at the sides as indicated at 38. This portion 39 is screw-threaded at its lower end as indicated at it and below this is a considerably reduced portion as indicated at provided with a rounded lower end as indicated at 32 which is rotatably supported in a depression 43 in the bottom plate of the can ing as shown in Figure 9. The upper part i l of the shaft 33 is rotatably supported in a sleeve portion 45 whose bore portion id opens through the top of the easing into a depression ill in which Works the switch arm Q8. The upper extremity of theshaft 38 has a reduced part having fiat sides entering the generally rectangular hole in the arm l8, and a screw 49 threaded into the upper end of the said upper extremity of the shaft 38 is provided with a washer engaging the top of the arm 48 and holding the arm 58 on the said reduced part so as to rigidly connect the arm 58 with the shaft 38.

Below and rotatably engaging the lower end of the sleeve portion 55 is the main plate portion 5! of the cam 53] which has the elongated central opening 52 receiving the flat sided portion 39 of the shaft 38. This earn as shown in Figures 9, 32 and 33 has a downwardly offset horizontal cam arm 53 for a purpose to be indicated. This cam has also a notch 5 whose purpose will be subsequently described. Supporting the cam 56 in place is the cam 55 which has a cylindrical portion 56 and the cam arm 57!. A look washer 58 below the cam is held in place on the shaft by the nut 53 which is threaded on the threaded portion of the shaft, as shown in Figure 9. The assembly just described is located, as indicated in Figures 6 and '7 at the left hand portion of the casing. To the right of this is the tumbler shaft controlled by the knob, and the switch mechanisin, both of which features will be described.

The tumbler shaft which is generally designated 63 is rotatably mounted in a sleeve portion 6! which depends from the top of the casing, and the shaft Gil has on its upper end and resting on a washer E52 engaging the upper side of the top, the dial 63 having the operating knob (id. The shaft E58 has at its lower end a portion $55 whose opposite sides are flattened to mount the tumbler disk operating plate til whose construction is shown in Figures 21 and The operating plate 68 has an elongated hole Si receiving the conforinably portion 65 of the shaft 59. A spring washer 68 which is shown in Figures 24 and 25 held up in place by a plate ti which is in turn held in place by a cotter pin l traversing the lower end of the shaft lib, as shown in Figure 8. The operating plate (56 has a dowel or pin it on its upper side which is adapted to enter one of the holes $2 in the lower member of the double disk tumbler it, so as to connect the double disk tumbler for rotation with the shaft Gil by manipulation of the knob 64. The upper disk E of the double disk tumbler has a similar arrangement of circumferentially spaced holes l2 and also an upwardly projecting pin it located in one the holes for engaging apin 79 located in one of the holes ll of the intermediate tumbler l8 and which depends from the intermediate tumbler 73. From the upper side of the tumbler it another pin 8%] projects upwardlyfor engaging with a depending pin ti on the upper tumbler 3 The upper tumbler 84 is also provided with a circumferentially spaced plurality of holes 83. The upper and intermediate tumblers are rotatable relative to the shaft 6?: subject to the engagement of the pins described while the double disk tumbler is connected by the means described for rotation with the shaft Ell, so that when the knob 54 is turned the double tumbler will be turned and the upper and intermediate tumblers will turn only when engagement of the pins takes place.

At one side of the casing and at a point intermediate the shaft 38 and the shaft 6i? is the shaft 85 which depends from the top of the casing and has rockably mounted thereon the spring urged locking dog 36 which is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figures 6 and 7) by the spring 53?. The form of this dog is shown clearly in Figures 38 and 39, as generally U-shaped and having a notch 8'? in one edge of its bight portion, and the arm 8& on the longer one of its legs. The longer leg 85! is provided with the opening as and the shorter leg 9i with the opening 92 for rotatably receiving the shaft The spring 8? has one end anchored to the anchor 93 on the top of the casing and has an intermediate portion circumposed about the shaft 65 and the opposite end sprung under the bight portion and in the notch 87' so that the dog is urged in the counterclockwise direction.

The arm 88 is arranged to engage the notch 5d of the cam 59 in the locked position of the device of the invention, as shown in Figure and the arm 88 is out of the notch 54 only when the bight portion of the dog has entered all of the notches H96, H37, and ms of the tumbler disks,

I bight portion from the tumbler notches.

these notches having been registered by making the proper combination by rotating the combination dial. While soengaged with the notches of the tumblers, the dog 85 is in effect disengaged from the cam 55 so that the switch lever 48 can be usedto rotate the cam 5k] in a counterclockwisedirection (as viewed in Figures 6 and '7) for the pur pose of working the high point of the cam 59 against the arm 23 of the bolt 23 so as to withdraw the bolt 23' from the locked position shown in Figure 7 to the unlocked position shown in Figure 6. The

tumblers are prevented from being rotated in any manner while the cam 50 and its switch lever are in the on or unlocked position illustrated in Figure 6, by reason of the position of the offset 53 of the cam 50 in the path which the arm 88'of the dog 86 would have to take to withdraw the When rotated in the clockwise direction the receding of the high point of the cam 50 will permit the looking bolt 23 to be drawn by its spring 35 into engagenient with the locking cylinder l8.

1 The plate 48 iormsthe circular portion of the ignition switch arm which includes the finger grip portion 48 which carries the spring pressed detent 4'! which is arranged to engage either one of the depressions 45 and it in the cut-out portion ii in thetop of the casing shown in Figure 5, whereby the switch arm is held in either the off or the on position until it is desired to shift the same for turning on or turning off the ignition. It will be recognized, therefore, that the shaft 3 8 is the ignition switch operating shaft and that the ignition switch operating shaft can be operated to the 'erated so as to align their notches to receive the bight portion of the dog.

Referring again to the tumbler operating shaft 60 it will be observed that the sameis journaled not only in the sleeve til but in a sleeve portion 6 l which depends from the sleeve portion 6i and has on its exterior a slot 63 with which the tongues 96 on wear plates or spacers 95 engage to prevent rotation of the said wear plates. These wear plates are disposed between adjacent ones of the tumbler disks as shown in Figure '8, thereby enabling rota tion of any one of the tumbler disks independently Y of the others within the limits defined by the posi tions of the various pins.

Mounted on the upper side of the bottom'plate M as shown in Figure 12' and in Figure 14 is a pair of normally separated spring circuit closing arms 9'! and 88, respectively, which are generally L-shaped in form as shown in Figure 1.2 and have foot portions 99 and lfill, respectively, which are rectangular in form and insulated from. each otherby dielectric washers It! which are held in place by screws 32. The individual foot portions 95 and ltd are connected to individual binding posts 5% and HM, respectively, which are mounted in the bottom plate l4. A bushing Hi5 insulates one of the binding posts from the bottom plate 54, as does an insulating plate 166. The cam arm 52' on the shaft 38 is arrangedto enthe spring arm 91 when the switch arm is moved to the on position and push the arm 91 i into engagement with the arm 98 and thereby close the ignition circuit.

The pins l5, i9, 80, and 8% or the several tumbler disks may be relocated in the holes in the tumblers at will so as to change the combination and their arrangement will cooperate with the notches H56, H17, and I08 of the double tumblers,

the intermediate tumblers and the uppertumbler, respectively, to arrange for the receiving of the bight'portion of the locking dog 86 so that the locking dog 86 will be sprung in the counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 6 and thereby release the cam 50 by disengagement from its notch 54, and permitting the cam 59 to be rotated by swinging the ignition switch arm 4-8. t is obvious that swinging of the switch operating arm 48 clockwise in Figure 2 will oper-- ate the cam 50 in such a way as to withdraw the locking bolt 23 from the position shown in Figure 7 to the non-locking position shown in Figure 6. The movement of the cam 50 is accompanied by engagement of the fibre cam 5'! with the ignition switch Contact 91 and S8, in a manner to engage the contact 91 with the contact 93 and thereby close the ignition circuit.

When the correct combination has been dialed by rotating the knob 64 in opposite directions tothree different numbers on the dial, the operating plate 56 will have carried the double disk tumbler into such positions that its upwardly projecting pin iii will have engaged the depending pin 79 of the intermediate tumbler and thereby placed the notch of the intermediate tumbler in its proper position to receive the arm of the looking dog, and further rotation of the knob 64 will have eventually brought the upper tumbler into position with its notch aligned with the other notches by engagement of the upwardly pro jecting pin 80 of the intermediate tumbler with the depending pin 8i of the upper tumbler.

To change the combination of the tumblers all that is necessary to do is to remove the cotter pin in the lower end of the shaft 68, lift the operating plate away from the double disk tumbler l3 so as to disengage the operating plate pin H from the bots in the disk '54 and then place the pin H in another one of the holes in the disk and then. restore the cotter pin in the shaft The mechanism just mentioned is reached simply by removing the bottom plate M.

It will be observed that while the device is in the unlocked condition shown in Figure 6, the switch arm 48 may be operated to on and. oil positions as desired, without upsetting the tumblers, thereby making possible the shutting the motor while making stops of short duration without looking the steering wheel. However, when. desired, the steering wheel may be locked simply by turning the switch arm to the on? position and then upsetting the tmnblers by rotating the knob @4 one revolution, regardless of the position of the steering wheel. One of the notches in the locking sleeve on the steering post may be in such a position at the time of upsetting the tumblers that the locking bolt will immediately engage such notch and lock the steering post, but such a position of the steering post at the time of upsetting the tumblers is not necessary, because the locking bolt is then under tension and will engage the first notch of the locking, sleeve on the steering post which may come into place as a result of turning the steering wheel after upsetting the tumblers.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in materials and in the structure and arrangement of parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. The combination with a steering column enclosing a steering post, of a casing mounted on the steering column, a bolt movably supported in said casing and working through openings provided in the casing and in the steering column and engageable with a part on the steering post, spring means within the casing and urging said bolt toward engagement with said part on the steering post, means for withdrawing said bolt comprising a rotatable cam having a notch in one edge, a plurality of tumbler disks rotatably mounted in the casing each provided with a notch in its edge capable of being registered with the notches of the other disks, a double ended dog rec ably mounted in the casing, spring means holding one end of said dog into engagement with the edges of said disks and the opposite end of the away from said cam, said opposite end of the dog being arranged to engage with said notch of the cam only while the bolt is in the locked position so as to prevent the cam from being turned, said disks being arranged to be rotated to bring their notches into registry so as to permit one end of the dog to engage therein and thereby disengage said opposite end from the notch in the cam, and means for rotating said cam while said one end of the dog is disengaged therefrom to operatively engage a part of said bolt so as to withdraw the bolt out of engagement with the steering post.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, a bolt movably mounted in and having a portion projectible from the casing, spring means engaging said bolt and urging said portion out of the casing into locking position, a cam rotatably mounted in the casing and having a working face engageable with said bolt for withdrawing the bolt into unlocking position against the tension of said spring means, a plurality of combination disks rotatably mounted in said casing, each disk having a peripheral notch, the disks being arranged to be rotated to align the peripheral notches, a double ended dog pivoted on said casing intermediate its ends on said casing, second spring means pressing one end of said dog against the peripheral edges of said disks while their notches are out of alignment and into said notches while the notches are aligned, the opposite end of the dog being arranged to engage in a second notch provided in the periphery of said cam while the said one end of the dog is in engagement with the periphery of said disks so that the cam is positively locked against rotation, the said one end of the dog being arranged to be disengaged from said cam while the said opposite end of the dog is engaged in the aligned peripheral notches of the combination disks so that the cam is free to be rotated, means for rotating said cam in either direction, a normally open switch in said casing, a second working face on said cam arranged to operatively engage said switch to close the same while said cam is in the bolt withdrawing position.

3. In a lock of the character described a casing having a bolt slidable therein including a portion arranged to project from the casing while in looking position, a cam mounted within the casing operatively engageable with said bolt for withdrawing the bolt into non-locking position and disengageable from the bolt to permit the bolt to return to locking position, a spring normally urging said bolt toward locking position, a set of disk tumblers mounted in said casing, a dog pivoted intermediate its ends on said casing, a

second spring normally urging one end of said dog in a direction to engage with said set of tumblers and the opposite end of the dog in a direction away from with said cam, said cam being provided with a notch, and the periphery of each of the tumblers being provided with a notch, the notches of the tumblers being arranged to be aligned as a result of properly manipulating the tumblers, said one end of the dog being arranged to move into the notches of the tumblers as these notches become aligned and thereby permit said opposite end of the dog to be disengaged from said cam by said second spring and thereby free the cam for movement in different directions for operating said bolt, said cam being provided with a notch arranged to receive the said opposite end of the dog while the cam is in inoperative position and while the first mentioned end of the dog is disengaged from the notches of the tumblers as the tumblers are upset and is riding on the peripheries of the tumblers, the engagement of said opposite end of the dog with thenotch of the cam locking the cam in the inoperative disengaged position, wherein the bolt is in the locking position, means for operating said cam, and second means for operating said set of tumblers.

4. A look of the type described comprising a casing, an extensible bolt mounted on the casing, a spring urging said bolt into extended locking position, a rotatable cam in the casing operatively engageable with said bolt for retracting the bolt, a set of disk tumblers mounted in the casing at one side of said cam, a dog pivoted intermediate its ends on the casing between said cam and said set of tumblers, a second spring urging the adjacent end of the dog toward engagement with said set of tumblers, the opposite end of the dog near the cam being thereby urged away from the cam, each tumbler having a notch arranged to become aligned with the notches of the other tumblers when the tumblers are properly manipulated, so as to receive therein said adjacent end of the dog so that said opposite end of the dog is then disengaged from said cam and the cam is free to be moved in opposite directions to operate said bolt, said cam being formed with a notch arranged to receive the said opposite end of the dog while the said adjacent end of the dog is disengaged from the aligned notches of the tumblers and the tumblers are upset whereby the cam is positively locked in its inoperative position in which the bolt is in its locking position, means for operating said cam, and second means for manipulating the set of tumblers.

5. In combination, a support, a bolt slidable thereon, a spring urging the bolt toward locking position, a notched cam normally disengaged from said bolt so that the bolt is then in the locking position, means for operating said cam into and out of operative engagement with the bolt, a set. of normally upset disk tumblers on the support, each formed with a notch, second means for manipulating the tumblers so as to align their notches, spring pressed means normally engaging the periphery of said tumblers and the notch of said cam while the tumblers are upset and the bolt is in its locked position so as to lock the cam in its disengaged position, said spring pressed means being arranged to move into engagement with the notches of the disks when the tumblers are manipulated so as to bring said notches into alignment in a manner to disengage said spring pressed means from the cam and thereby free the cam to be operated by the cam operating means in opposite directions for withdrawing said bolt from and permitting the bolt to return to locking position.

6. In combination, a support, a bolt slidable thereon, a spring urging the bolt toward locking position, a notched cam normally disengaged from said bolt so that the bolt is then in the locking position, means for operating said cam into and outer operative engagement with the bolt, a set of normally upset disk tumblers on the support, each having a notch, second means for manipulating the tumblers so as to align their notches, spring pressed means normally engaging the periphery of said tumblers and the notch of said cam while the tumblers are upset and the bolt is in locking position, so as to lock the cam in its disengaged position, said spring pressed means being arranged to move into engagement with the notches of the disks when the tumblers are manipulated so as to bring their notches into alignment in a manner to disengage said spring pressed means from the cam and thereby free the cam to be operated by the cam operating means in opposite directions for withdrawing said bolt from and permitting the bolt to return to locking position, and stop means on said cam, said stop means being positioned during the operative position of the cam to positively prevent disengagement of said spring pressed means from the aligned notches of the tumblers, thereby preventing upsetting of the tumblers while the bolt is in a retracted position.

7. In combination, a support, a bolt slidable thereon, a spring urging the bolt toward locking position, a notched cam normally disengaged from said bolt so that the bolt is then in the locking position, means for operating said cam into and out of operative engagement with the bolt, a set of normally upset disk tumblers on the support, each having a notch, second means for manipulating the tumblers so as to align their notches, spring pressed means normally engaging the periphery of said tumblers and the notch of said cam while the tumblers are upset and the bolt is in looking position so as to lock the cam in its disengaged position, said spring pressed means being arranged to move into engagement with the notches of the disk when the tumblers are manipulated so as to bring their notches into alignment in a manner to disengage said spring pressed means from the cam and thereby free the cam to be operated by the cam operating means in opposite directions for withdrawing said bolt from and permitting the bolt to return to locking position, and stop means on said cam, said stop means bein: positioned during the operative position. of the cam to positively prevent disengagement of said spring pressed means from the aligned notches of the tumblers, thereby preventing upsetting of the tumblers while the bolt is in a retract-ed position, said stop means being arranged to occupy a position while the cam is in its inoperative position in which said stop means engages said bolt in a manner to positively prevent further rotation of the cam away from its operative position.

IRVING KNAPPER. 

